Emmy has been borrowing her cousin’s Snow White dress for the past…oh wow, two months (where does the time go???). She wears it everyday and LOVES looking like a princess. Well, on Saturday she asked me if I would make her a pink princess dress. Uuuuuuh, I WANTED to say ‘yes’ but couldn’t see a time in the near future that I would be able to do it, what with this baby coming n’all. But you have no idea how cute it is when Emmy looks at you and asks things like “Mom, do you want to cuddle with me?” or “Mom, do you want to play with me in my playhouse?” or “Mom, will you make me a pink princess dress, please?” It is IMPOSSIBLE to say ‘no’. So I told her I would but and I had NO IDEA how I was going to do it.

Well, later THAT night, Logan called and asked if she and Lauren could bring over Emmy’s birthday present. Lauren was soooo excited about it and wanted to bring it over before bed. They pulled into the driveway, opened the car door, and GUESS WHAT THE PRESENT WAS!!!!!!!

LOGAN MADE A PINK PRINCESS DRESS FOR EMMY!!!!!

I almost started crying! How completely inspired and amazing Logan is! Logan, thank you, thank you, thank you! You are incredible and we love you sooooo much!!!

Ashton and Emmy were in the Fiesta Days Children’s Parade for the Primary Activity on Saturday. Ashton didn’t even want to go and Emmy wasn’t really old enough to be there, but they ended up having such a fabulous time. I was PLANNING on riding in the trailer with Emmy and Ashton, taking it easy, but Ashton decided he wanted to ride his bike since his pal, Mac, was riding his. So I walked along with the adults to make sure Ashton was staying with our group.

Emmy had a blast waving at everyone and throwing candy with Druw

Emmy taking her float-riding responsibilities seriously…

After the parade, there was a big party at the library park for the kids. Here is Steph keeping the kids busy with Duck Duck Goose until all the parents came. She and the Primary Presidency did such a great job with this activity. It was a scary undertaking, if you ask me.

No matter what Ashton is doing, he is humming a song. If he is playing with his toys, his humming is mingled with sound effects. If he’s dressed up and running around as a superhero, there is DEFINITELY a song being hummed. On his bike…humming. Walking around the house bored..humming. It’s so cute, I love it.

Ashton LOVES to color and draw. If he isn’t playing the Wii or with his friends, he’s up in the kitchen drawing. And I STILL don’t know if he’s right-handed or left-handed. He usually has a different color in each hand and will alternate hands depending on which color he wants to use. It’s WILD. Anyhoo, I can ALWAYS tell what he is drawing by the song he is humming. For instance, he’s sitting right here next to me drawing as I blog and he is humming the very intense Danny Elfman “Batman” Movie theme song as he draws Batman.

Joker: He’ll hum the circus song from “Batman”

Superman: John Williams’ Superman Theme

Star Wars: There are MANY Star Wars songs depending on the character or the scene he’s drawing

Darth Vadar: Imperial March

Princess Leia: Normal Star Wars song

Ewoks: Yes, the Ewoks have their own little theme song and he knows it

Spiderman: Spiderman theme

Most of the songs are by John Williams. Of course, I love John Williams, but have you ever tried to hum Star Wars without it turning into Superman or Jurassic Park or Indiana Jones??? It’s really hard. Well, Ashton can distinguish between all of the songs within the first couple notes. It’s amazing.

PS: I was wondering last summer if only little boys love to pick flowers for their moms. Well, that little glass is full of flowers Emmy picked for me. They BOTH love to bring me flowers accompanied by kisses and hugs. Am I lucky or what?!?!? I LOOOOVE IT!

I LOOOOVE the 4th of July!!!!! And I ABSOLUTELY LOOOOVED that the 4th of July was on Sunday this year and that all the festivities were spread out over four days!!! Here’s a brief report of the fun we had:

We started the weekend off on Friday with something new for us that I am hoping will become another part of our traditions. We went to the Utah Symphony’s Patriotic Celebration at the Sundance outdoor amphitheater. Cari and I had a long list of patriotic songs we wanted to hear so we were probably impossible to please, but it was still very good.

Spencer, Cari, Rob, Krissy, Josh, Jenn

Cari wasn’t expecting to hike down a mountain in the dark when she chose her shoes 🙂

The next morning we woke up early to watch the hot air balloon launch.

We went to church on Sunday where I cried, once again, as we sang all the verses to “The Star Spangled Banner”. I bet most of the United States doesn’t even KNOW there are more verses. And, if you ask me, this is THE MOST important and meaningful verse, ESPECIALLY NOW!!!!!

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave

After church we went to Josh’s parents’ for another BBQ. We brought huge marshmallows to roast and Josh made Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler…and Josh’s mom made my favorite chocolate pudding dessert…oh man, I ate way too much! Then the kids went wild with sparklers.

Ashton is a VERY patient boy 🙂

The next morning we went to the Freedom Festival Parade. (Thank you Nate, Steph, Fia, Sheri and EVERYONE for letting us reap the rewards of your long day and night of place-saving)

After becoming a champ on Lego Star Wars, Ashton was ready for something new. A few months ago when Ashton was shopping for my birthday present at Best Buy, he spotted the Lego Batman game for the Wii and asked if he could have it. We usually say “Yeah! You can have that for your birthday!” but this time he told Josh he didn’t want to wait for his birthday….DANG IT! He’s growing up. It ALWAYS worked before. Anyhoo, Josh told him he could EARN it by helping out around the house and that I would make a chart for him. I am pretty O.C.D. and didn’t really want to relinquish any of my household duties so it took me a while to come up with things he could do. I finally made the chart and Ashton worked sooooo hard to earn his game. He was a little discouraged after the first three or four days but pressed on. He’s such a good little (BIG) guy!

I’m relieved that his crush on SLAVE Princess Leia seems to have diminished SLIGHTLY since Cat Woman entered his life.